sneak-a-peek again: more #Entrepreneur #stories

women sharing real love  

and 
africans keeping it real 

💯

 

Make sure you subscribe! 
Follow all my blogs on one twitter.  
Follow on facebook.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

comment on inequality

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)

Make sure you subscribe! 
Also subscribe to NewsBuka.
Follow all my blogs on one twitter.  
Follow on facebook.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Do you want more money?  Take this Zikoko FUN QUIZ: How much should you be earning? 

be +ve, stay +ve

If Nigeria is going to be great, it must first start with empowering its youths. To this end, the Government is getting it right via the N-Power scheme. #NPower pic.twitter.com/TesGJsXNdz

— Ogochukwu ❤️ (@TheEmmalez) March 19, 2021

Be positive and stay positive.    

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson)

This tribute was written by Ms Tina, who is the mother of superstar Beyoncé. 

Entertainment superstar Beyoncé has now won 28 Grammy awards.  


Make sure you subscribe! 
Also subscribe to NewsBuka.
Follow all my blogs on one twitter.  
Follow on facebook.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

One Million Dollars or Equivalent. Let's say you had that...Then What?

Gather round.  

Discuss in the comments.  

Anonymous comments are ok.  

s a m p l e

Make sure you subscribe to UpNaira! 

Also subscribe to NewsBuka.
Follow all my blogs on one twitter.  
Follow on facebook.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Young Millionaires . . .

1. How I Became A Millionaire By 30 (FEA)

2. Top Dating and Relationship Tips from TechLead 

3. Get there yourself with help from the Tony Elumelu Foundation (Apply Now, use these tips) 

Make sure you subscribe to UpNaira! 
Also subscribe to NewsBuka.
Follow all my blogs on one twitter.  
Follow on facebook.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Every Monday at zikoko.com

This #NairaLife

 click to begin 

I just read them all!

Get UpNaira email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

What could be better than #winning ?

Good question.

Studies show that increased salaries are not making people happier https://t.co/irUL4PbLGY

— xoNecole (@xonecole) January 11, 2019

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

/ / as the year ends / /

5 Tips to increase your wealth, from The Qur'an and Sunnah 
(share/comment) 


music (featuring Skepta)
Praise The Lord (Da Shine) by A$AP Rocky

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Experience (@theexperiencelagos) on Oct 26, 2018 at 8:43am PDT

The Experience = 
Annual Gospel Mega-Concert Friday Dec 7th (overnight till Saturday)
//

View this post on Instagram

EN: While the great ones of the Earth build themselves ‘thrones’ for their own power, God chooses an uncomfortable throne, the cross, from which to reign by giving his life. PT: Enquanto os grandes da Terra constroem "tronos" para o próprio poder, Deus escolhe um trono incômodo, a cruz, a partir do qual reinar dando a vida. ES: Mientras los grandes de la Tierra construyen «tronos» para su propio poder, Dios elige un trono incómodo, la cruz, desde donde reinar dando la vida. IT: Mentre i grandi della Terra si costruiscono “troni” per il proprio potere, Dio sceglie un trono scomodo, la croce, dal quale regnare dando la vita. FR: Alors que les grands de la Terre se construisent des «trônes» pour leur pouvoir, Dieu choisit un trône inconfortable, la croix, de laquelle il règne en donnant la vie. DE: Während die Großen der Erde sich „Throne“ für ihre eigene Macht aufbauen, wählt Gott einen unbequemen Thron, das Kreuz, von dem aus er herrscht und Leben schenkt. PL: Podczas gdy wielcy tego świata stawiają sobie “trony” dla sprawowania władzy, Bóg wybiera tron niewygodny, krzyż, z którego króluje, ofiarując życie. #christtheking #cristorey #cristore

A post shared by Pope Francis (@franciscus) on Nov 25, 2018 at 4:59am PST

 ~ Papa Francisco ~


"My friends and my road-fellows, pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion. Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its own winepress. Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful. Pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among its ruins, and will rebel not save when its neck is laid between the sword and the block. Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking. Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings, and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another with trumpetings again. Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation." - Khalil Gibran in The Garden of the Prophet (1933)

Olamide's 'Poverty, Die!' is the jam.

*********************************

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Skimming is the new reading, somebody wrote. OK. #FastFive

Reviewing the 2008 global financial crisis // The key policymakers have always maintained they had no choice but to let Lehman Brothers collapse. That’s simply not true.  (More...) 

Sooner than later, people will realise that cattle ranching is a good investment. - Audu Ogbeh, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (More...) 

Unlocking Africa’s Agricultural Potential to Create Wealth, a speech delivered at the FAO by Akinwunmi Adesina, former Agric Minister (More...)

Aretha Franklin died without a will.   One of the singer’s attorneys said he urged her repeatedly to draft one.  (More...) 

Young people working for free, no money for food but they're cooler than you (More...) 


Get UpNaira email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

What's your next move? "Back to the village" and the businesses / technologies that support it

A world where workers will be empowered to dictate their own hours, their own wages, and most importantly, their own freedom to explore their passions. 

A massive shift that opens up the opportunity for numerous peer-to-peer services and networks.

Driven by a post-scarcity economic model whereby you can live very frugally if you choose to, some workers (mostly college-educated and urban) are opting out of the now traditional work structure and choosing their own path.

People are really doing this.  
Source: VentureBeat, please read.  

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

~*~ Business mentor + success coach

Free tips at instagram.com/alituplife :

In my business I place a lot of emphasis on self care and building a business that feels GOOD. That’s why I love this quote so much! Just like any other habit, whether that be visibility or hitting the gym, happiness is a HABIT. It needs daily practice, and that means making it a priority. This week I talked a lot about daily practices that support you and your business, save this quote as a reminder that incorporating daily practices that support your happiness is super important!

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Sep 20, 2017 at 6:25am PDT

I love this idea that we become what we repeatedly do, because that gives us SO much control over our future! If you want to be super visible and well known, get super visible and well known. Post on social media. Go live! Talk to people. Do that over and over, and guess what you’ll become… super visible and well known! Let me know people who you’re becoming and what you’re repeatedly doing to get there! 💚

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Sep 22, 2017 at 6:48am PDT

For a lot of business owners, the sales process can feel sleazy and transactional, even if they aren’t engaging in salesy tactics. That’s why it’s important we shift our mindset and reframe the way we approach sales. Not just so it feels good, but so it helps us focus on what really matters: building relationships. Sales are a relationship. They come after taking the time to build real, genuine relationships with real, genuine people. When we approach our potential clients as people instead of dollar signs, we’re much more likely to actually make the sale and feel good about it. What do you think? Do you see sales as a relationship or just a part of business?

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Sep 26, 2017 at 6:51am PDT

I don't know about you, but lately it feels like there's some serious shouting and shaming going on in the online space. There's a lot of "let me tell you why I'm great, and why you suck cause you're not like me". And while I'm all for tooting your own horn, I'm NOT about making others feel small, nor having someone try to make me feel that way (because I'm not doing it how they're doing it). So check in with yourself, and the people/coaches/groups/etc. you're surrounded with. Are they making you feel great? Are they showing you what's possible and asking you to step into it? If not, it's time to let 'em go. On this entrepreneurial journey you only have room for the people that reflect to you the greatness inside you! Tag someone below who does that for you and thank them!

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Sep 27, 2017 at 7:03am PDT

Relationships thrive on consistency. We like adventure and surprises, but we also like to know that the people we care about will always be there and support us when needed. It’s the same with business and sales. Make it a point to consistently check in with your prospects, current clients, and former clients. Schedule a time once a day or once a week, and ask everyone how they’re doing. Continue to build that relationship and give value, while you kick back and watch your bank account go up. Do you have a plan to follow up with leads? Or check in with clients? Do you think it helps your business or is totally a waste of time? Let me know!

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Sep 28, 2017 at 7:29am PDT

It's so easy to stay paralyzed in the online space. To make all the plans, take all the courses, and learn all the things, and still feel stuck. It's not because there's more to learn, it's because you're trusting others and not yourself. You didn't need a "5 step plan to success for walking" and you don't need one for business. You need self-knowledge, self-trust, and some support. THAT is your foundation. The knowledge, skills, etc. are the icing on the cake. And more importantly... THAT is how innovation happens. Not by trying to follow all the rules, but by trusting yourself enough to create your own! Who's ready to stop being a rule follower?

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Sep 29, 2017 at 6:30am PDT

Don’t be afraid to try something new because you don’t want to make a mistake. There are no mistakes or failures, only lessons learned. What’s something new you want to try? Drop your answers below! 👇

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Oct 2, 2017 at 6:46am PDT

This is so good! I think sometimes people feel guilty for caring about money (which is super important as a biz owner!) because they think it makes them greedy. The truth is, caring about money won’t make you greedy, destroy your priorities, or turn you into a money monster. But money can help you go on more vacations, send your kids to better schools, invest back into your business, take care of your health, and so much more. Money is a tool that YOU use, not a vice that uses you. Share a story below of something FUN you’ve been able to do because of money! 👇💸

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Oct 4, 2017 at 7:19am PDT

We are not what you think we are // We are golden, we are golden.  - Mika

One of the easiest ways to boost our reputation is to grow our communities, and that all comes down to one thing: connection. How many people are you connecting with each week? Set a connection goal and track it just like you would your income. This could be in the form of connection calls, free strategy sessions, questions answered, and clients helped. Think about the number of people you want to help instead of the dollar signs attached to them and the money will follow, and so will your street cred.

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Oct 6, 2017 at 6:51am PDT

This is a powerful reminder. Especially as entrepreneurs it can be SO easy to focus on what's next and what we're working toward. It's so important to find that balance of being grateful for what we have while we work toward our next desire. What are you grateful for right now? Share with us below!

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Oct 13, 2017 at 6:57am PDT

It sounds cheesy, but it's true. If you don't want to make a big impact with your business or your work, entrepreneurship is going to be an uphill battle. If you started your business because of a mission greater than yourself, you'll still have those ups and downs, but they won't effect you nearly as much. I know that I'm here to create waves, to serve, to be a game changer, to make an impact, and to do things differently. And THAT is why A Lit Up Life exists. Why does your business exist? Tell us below.

A post shared by Lacey Sites MS, MBA (@alituplife) on Oct 9, 2017 at 6:22am PDT

Get UpNaira email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

an hour with mos def

watch, listen, enjoy.

Get UpNaira email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

#giving #goals

Thank you Rihanna
Donated $2 million to Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 relief fund 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/NVN7SbdFPY

— Sure Kamhunga (@sure_kamhunga) August 20, 2017

Hundreds dead in mudslide disaster

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Two billionaires at tea

Oprah interviews JK Rowling
Edinburgh, Scotland,
October 2010.

Watch the 40min video.  Hmmm, so they're just like us?

Get UpNaira email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

The business of Information Technology services in Africa - Under-40 CEOS

I recently discovered this fantastic series of video interviews.

Here are two that you should watch (or have your kids watch) in order to develop the ability to become a technology-business leader par-excellence. 

FAB interviews Farida Bedwei of Logiciel.



...and Wole Faroun of Netplus.

Totally awesome.  Worth discussing. 

Enjoy the holidays, and come back for MORE.

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Ethical Capitalism for the person and the state

Decisions that buyers, workers, and entrepreneurs make can make work and business so much better.


Broad-minded and Large-hearted policies can make the economy work even better for everyone.

You may also like: What do the rich really want?
Get UpNaira email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

I'm black and I'm a member of the 1%

In the U.S. today, the average African-American household owns just 6
cents for every $1 of wealth held by the typical white household, and
blacks make up just 1.7% of the top 1% of wealthy Americans. But there
are black members of the 1% who are working to change that. 

In this short feature, CNN's Tanzina Vega
investigates the historical and contemporary racial barriers to wealth
creation in the U.S.



If you love this, spare the time to also watch Born Rich

Advertisement: Big Boy and Big Girl

Using electric power at home

My monthly use is less than 50 units (1-2 kWh per day). I am very proud of this.

Check your power bill or meter to see how many units you're using monthly. 

More affluent homes in Nigeria easily use 5-10 times as much energy per person from PHCN, 500 units per person! - and on top of that still have a generator with the life-wasting issues that come with that (waste money, time, and fuel to generate noise, stress, and fumes).

Let us try to pity ourselves fa. :D

You too can cut down on your power use and even get off the grid with solar and storage.  See the future.  If you want to change, here are some tips for saving energy: 

Use energy-efficient lighting.  You want light, not heat, right?  Change your "globe" to CFL - compact fluorescent light - or better.  Not only do you use 5 times less power and waste less as heat, but these CFL lightbulbs also last much longer before they need to be replaced.   

Approximate power (Watts) used by different globes to deliver the same light output as a 100W incandescent old-school lightbulb

Use energy-efficient appliances in general.  Many times the engineers determine this anyway, so your more modern appliances are already more energy efficient than the old designs. 

Turn it off if you're not using it.   24-hour cable television in the empty rooms?  Outdoor "security" light on at midday?  Leave a 60 Watt bulb on 24/7 to indicate when "NEPA has brought light"?  At least change it to an LED light, please. 

Rethink ventilation and cooling.  If you use an A/C, is the room/space closed or are you attempting to cool the entire city?  :)  If you live in the tropics like most of Africa, is your space so uncomfortably cold that you're shivering indoors or have to use special clothing and bedding to survive?  Businesses do this a lot, actually - very annoying - and so people have to wear thick Western clothing in this tropical heat!  Can you have windows, vents, and well-designed air-flow substitute for the air-conditioner? 

Pay attention to heating appliances - they use A LOT more power.  You may not need an electric cooker because it is usually wasteful.  You should not keep your electric bathroom/kitchen water heater on infinitely when not in use.  If necessary, ask a professional about timers, thermostats and automation to make your home run more efficiently.  

Turn it down if a low level is good enough.  If your fridge-freezer only has water and bread in it most of the time, you don't need it at freezing point, so adjust the thermostat.  If you don't keep a lot of food, you can use the freezer compartment for all your fridge needs instead of over-cooling the whole space.  Change your airconditioner's set temperature to a comfortable level. 

Don't waste water.  Especially hot water.  It took a lot of energy to get that water.  Don't leave the shower running, don't leave the pipes/faucets leaking, and don't leave the pumping machine overfilling the tank.  Call in the professional to help you sort these things out.  Ideally, the government would provide water services, but even government water should be respected and conserved.  

If you take hot showers, ... just kidding!  Take your hot shower if you need it.  Hey, it's not about not being able to live well, it's about being conscious of the fact that these are Valuable and Non-Renewable resources, and acting responsibly in accordance with our conscience and pocketbook.  Keep that hot shower brisk. 

Don't forget to share this (buttons below) and add a comment.

 

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

We're in this together

Ìrọ̀rùn igi ni ìrọ̀rùn ẹyẹ. / The comfort of the tree is what assures the comfort of the bird (on it).

[Pursue the common good, always]

— Yoruba Proverbs (@yoruba_proverbs) July 8, 2016

...

"-- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own.  You didn’t get there on your own.  I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart.  There are a lot of smart people out there.  It must be because I worked harder than everybody else.  Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.  (Applause.)
     If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help.  There was a great teacher somewhere in your life.  Somebody helped to create this unbelievable .. system that we have that allowed you to thrive.  Somebody invested in roads and bridges.  If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that.  Somebody else made that happen.  The Internet didn’t get invented on its own.  Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.
     The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.  There are some things .. we don’t do on our own.  I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. "
- Guess who said this // Guess when/where at least

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.

Earning and Ego in the African family

Long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away...
Not really :)
Men hunted, gathered, warred, and brought home an alien sliced and salted bit of pig meat called bacon.
Women cooked this thing, cleaned house meticulously, supported man unflinchingly, all the while dressed neatly and attractively in mellow yellow shirt and single-row of pearls.
Everyone lived happily ever after.

Nowadays, we have a new fable: 
Women march off to work and often win a delightful prize called bread, which many in these parts would rather have than bacon.

As before, men are free to hunt, gather, war, and bring home various cuts of meat, bearing in mind that physicians say fish and lean beef, as part of a low-fat, low sodium diet, are better for overall health.
 Now,
winning great quantities of bread is a good thing UNLESS this winner is a married woman.  Marriage interacts with earning in such a way that everybody does not live happily ever after.

Homie, we still cool? . . .  No, we are definitely not cool.

But why?
And what can be done?
Read this:   

Join the conversation at nakedconvos.com

Get email updates.
Order Big Girl and Big Boy.